The national finals tested the geographic knowledge of 55 U.S. students in fourth through eighth grade—each contestant was already a winner at the state or territory level. Each finalist is allowed one wrong answer.

"I think I just got lucky," said the Lincoln, Nebraska sixth grader, who said after the contest that he was confident of all his answers except one.

Asked what country lies east of Iran and holds the city of Balkh—the supposed birthplace of the ancient 13th-century Persian poet Rumi—Rajagopal wasn't sure.

With magic marker, he wrote "Afghanistan" on his card. His guess was right.

"For the second year in a row, ladies and gentleman, the National Geographic Bee champion is a student who has not missed one question," said the event's moderator, Jeopardy! quiz show host Alex Trebek. "Akshay, way to go!"